I.R.S. rear axle Cal Look cars? Still out there? Or are we still stuck....?

[Jim Ratto]

Seems the IRS cars are so rare in the hot rodded VW world today. Are they not in vogue?
If you've had the oppotunity to drive an I.R.S. car back-to-back with a swingaxle, you'll realize how nice the IRS cars can be to drive. Go over a hump in a turn, and the I.R.S. car still steers where you want it to, instead of acting like a grocery cart missing a castor wheel. I hope the scene is accepting of a nice 1971 or so standard Type 1, done simply and tastefully, 914 Mahles or Pedrinis, or 8-spokes, nice useable radials, healthy 2000+cc motor....  what a nice driver it would be.

[Rocket Ron]

my 56 ghias on a IRS pan 

its going to be a daily driver because of the better ride quality

[louisb]

I think it is mostly an issue of strength. The IRS tranny can be made to live with higher HP but it is not cheap. Plus there are more points for failure than on a SA.

--louis

[team97]

Seems the IRS cars are so rare in the hot rodded VW world today. Are they not in vogue?
If you've had the oppotunity to drive an I.R.S. car back-to-back with a swingaxle, you'll realize how nice the IRS cars can be to drive. Go over a hump in a turn, and the I.R.S. car still steers where you want it to, instead of acting like a grocery cart missing a castor wheel. I hope the scene is accepting of a nice 1971 or so standard Type 1, done simply and tastefully, 914 Mahles or Pedrinis, or 8-spokes, nice useable radials, healthy 2000+cc motor....  what a nice driver it would be.

Jim, you just described my old 54 vert. First on Mahles then eight spokes, 2180 CC 4:88 R/P,Slicks and 12.99 at Carlsbad and I drove it everyday (It was my only car)

[team97]

Oh yah and the front plate was meant to read in a mirror. Glenn

[Zach Gomulka]

After puting so many miles on my GTV, I gotta say I love me some IRS! For a daily ride that doesnt see too much strip abuse, it is the only way to fly.

[Neil Davies]

Don't forget that the only Beetles outside America with IRS from the factory were 1302/1303 models (with the strut front end) and the semi-automatic (with the torsion bar front) - none of which are exactly prime Cal Look material!

Having said that, I think IRS is increasing in popularity with racers in Europe. With people getting more power out of motors than ever before, gearboxes are again the weak link, so Bus box conversions are becoming a viable option. I know it's not for the reasons you posted, Jim, but that's what I can see!